An open mind is never limited. The things I see, feel, and touch daily, they are my greatest assets. You will get to know me as a person since there's usually a part of me that's expressed in the things I write. And if you are inspired, then I'm encouraged. That's the goal of a writer; to inspire.

Sunday, 22 January 2017

Despite
her concern about how nosey some maids are, Twumwaa has always trusted Abigail
and treated her like an elder sister. She liked her the very first day Abigail
was brought into the house by her mother, and since then they’ve been very
close.

“Ma’am,
you trust me enough to tell me if anything is the matter, right?”

“Come
on Abie! How many times do I need to tell you to stop calling me ma’am, huh?” “It’s
not me ooo. You know I’ve been doing this for a while now, I guess it’s part of
me now. Besides, that’s the right thing to do.”

“Aarrhhhh
Abie…And who told you that calling me ma’am is the right thing to do,” Twumwaa
replied. “I’d really appreciate it if you could stop calling me ma’am.”

“Now,
to your question, yes! You know I’d tell you if there was something bothering
me. For now, I’m incredibly fine. There’s really nothing serious going on with
me.” “Is that so?” “Yes of course, Abie!”
“Trust me, if something is wrong with me, you’ll be the first to know! Twumwaa
assured her.

“Then
who was at the other end of the phone with ma’am yesterday? And what does she
mean by, things aren’t okay with you?” Abigail asked.

“Hmmm,
Abie, I really don’t know what ma’am’s problem is ooo. She has been acting weird
lately and it beats my imagination. Honestly, I have no idea who was on the
other end of the phone, and I don’t know what she meant by thing aren’t okay
with me,” Twumwaa replied in response.

For
a while, Abigail mumbled to herself as she stood up to continue to clean the
room. As she began to mop up the remaining part of the floor, she said to
Twumwaa, “actually there’s something I had wanted to ask you since last week.”

“Really?
and, why haven’t you? She asked. Abigail scratched the back of her head and
said, I wasn’t sure if it was my place to ask.

“Seriously,
you don’t need permission to ask me anything, okay. I’ve always told you, that
you’re like a big sister to me.” Come here… sit down. “What is it that you wanted
to ask me?” she asked her. “Last week I noticed you’ve cut your hair short, and
I was quite surprised because I’ve never seen you do that and now that you are
contemplating cutting it even shorter, I’m tempted to know why?” Perhaps, that’s
what ma’am is worried about,” she said.

Saturday, 21 January 2017

Looking back and reflecting on the happenings during the campaign period, particularly over the weeks leading up to the 7th December Election, as the idea circulated in the minds of most Ghanaians that election results might be heavily protested, I noticed the focus was, to a large extent, on the presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his running mate Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia PhD, and the supporters of the NPP. This is not to say that there was no focus on the John Dramani Mahama and the NDC camp. Perhaps the focus on the NPP camp was at the level it was because the NPP had carved a reputation for itself having protested the previous presidential election. Also, the focus was more on the NPP and the Nana Addo camp because until now, a sitting president has never lost an election.

However, depending upon your political association and personal views, as well as your source of news, there would be no cause for worry from the camp.

The December 7th election presented a stupendous defeat and trauma moment for the NDC and its supporters. So what's the appropriate response to that moment for the NDC faithfuls? Through WhatsApp chats, Facebook posts, blog posts and tweets, I've heard from so many NDC faithfuls - their disappointment over the election results, the fear over what life under the Nana Addo regime will be like for most of the NDC big guns. Their frustration and tears, and for some, the fear that the Nana Addo regime has nothing to offer to promote the development agenda of Ghana than to witch-hunt the big guns in the NDC, has become the song on their lips.

Let me propose a more neutral perspective to both camps - "take it to the Lord in prayer."

As for me, I'll be praying as someone who went to the polls unenthusiastic about the two major candidates for president because none was able to convince me enough. But I voted because I had hope, and I wish that all over Ghana, people will accept that change has come so we need to move forward.

And as president Nana Addo stated in his inaugural speech, that we should all be responsible and play our part in moving Ghana forward, I shall pray that, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, president of Ghana, will be a better president than most people expect. I pray that he will be open to life transforming perspectives regardless of whichever quarters they originate from. I pray that he will receive advice and good counsel from the team he will assemble. I pray also that he will open his heart, mind eyes and ears to those outside of his chosen team, who have the interest of Ghana at heart. Most importantly, I pray that Nana Addo becomes the most successful president yet, because Nana Addo's success is Ghana's success.

I was particularly happy when I heard former president, John Dramani Mahama encouraging everyone to give the new president all the support he needs. I therefore appeal to every Ghanaian, regardless of which camp you belong or faith, to pray for president Akufo-Addo because a prayer for Akufo-Addo, is a prayer for Ghana.

Thursday, 5 January 2017

Let me officially take this opportunity to wish you my cherished reader and followers a Happy New Year!!!. May this year, 2017, be our best year ever.

Late last year, I took to Facebook to inform my Facebook friends that I'd be releasing a maiden series called "The Girl Next Door." It's with great joy that I present to you the first episode of this inspiring and revealing series.

Don't be surprised by what you'd discover as the story unfolds. I can confidently tell you that these are happening in our everyday lives. It's my hope that this story will inspire and teach us some valuable lessons.

Inception

Abigail
entered Twumwaa’s bedroom and found her standing in front of the mirror,
examining the length of her hair. I’m contemplating cutting it even shorter, what
do you think? Mom thinks I’m going crazy, do you think so too? Twumwaa asked,
turning back to look at Abigail.

Abigail
shrugged and regarded her. “Not sure – you know what they say. When a woman
cuts her hair, there’s no going back and as in your case, when she’s not married,
she’s indirectly saying she’s not interested,” she said.

Twumwaa gave a short
laugh. The mirror reflected the spear like look in her eyes to her favourite
maid. “Those are just fallacies. If a man is meant for you, he will notice you
whether you have a long hair or short hair. It’s about what makes me
comfortable and confident. So, don’t believe everything you hear,” she said.

“Everything?”
Abigail asked. Abigail dipped the mop into the water, a few steps away from
Twumwaa’s bed and began to mop up the floor in a methodical manner.

“That’s
what I said,” Twumwaa replied as she covered her head with a scarf.

Abigail
began to make a humming sound, “take it to the Lord in prayer.”

Twumwaa stopped
what she was doing. “If you have something to say Abigail, just say it.”

Abigail
opened her mouth, and for a while it looks like she was about to say something.
“Hmmm, I have nothing to say oo.”

“That’s not true and you know it. Each time
you hum such tunes, you always have something to say, so what is it?” Abigail
hesitated for a while, “alright, I don’t want you to think that I’m being a
gossip, ma’am I just heard there’s”

“First
of all, do not call me ma’am, I’m not my mother. Second, and for the record, I
don’t think you are a gossip, ever. We’re friends, remember?” Twumuwaa
interrupted her.

“Okay.”
Abigail placed the mop on the floor and walked over to Twumwaa. She sat on the
edge of her bed and held her right shoulder.

Twumwaa arched her brow. “What did she say?” “That, things aren’t okay right with you-
that she’s trying so hard to get through to you but you just wouldn’t budge.”

“What things? What are you talking about?” Twumwaa asked as she cleared her
throat.

Abigail
shrugged. “I don’t know. It just got me wondering, that’s all. Since yesterday,
I’ve been worried about you, trying to figure out what the problem might be,”
she replied.

Twumwaa grunted. She has always liked Abigail and considered her
as a sister, the one she never had, even though Abigail is much older than her.
But the awareness that she possess intimate details about her ordeal disturbed
Twumwaa.

She has an idea of how maidservants like to huddle in hidden coners,
whispering about their employers. The last thing she needed was any form of
rumour spreading about her life.

For
a moment, she wished she had not cut her hair. But she did that just to get her
mother of her back. Her mother has, over the past two weeks worried her to go
out to the saloon and get her hair done, when all she wanted to do was to stay
at home after she has taken some time off work. Now, it seems Twumwaa has found
a way to get her mother of her back.